Thai Chicken Lettuce Wraps (20 min)

This Healthy Thai Chicken Lettuce Wrap is an easy appetiser, so flavourful, no dipping sauce is needed. One of my favorite Asian lettuce wraps thanks to the juicy chicken thighs (low carb) and fresh basil leaves. I show you how to make it spicy (or not)- better than pf Changs anyday! On the dinner table in just 20 minutes- thanks to the lettuce (you can use iceberg, romaine etc), and chicken, it's a complete nutritious and filling meal. (Can be a main dish, side dish, or appetizer.)

Jump to:

• 🥘 Ingredients
• 🔪 Step-by-Step Instructions
• 🥡 How to Store
• 🥗 Suggested Accompanying Recipes
• Thai Chicken Lettuce Wrap (20 min)
• 💬 Comments

🥘 Ingredients

You will only need a few fresh ingredients for this complete meal of Thai chicken lettuce wraps:

• Basil Leaves: If you have a Click & Grow indoor gardening set, like me, you'll have Thai Basil and Holy Basil all year round. (Any extra fresh herbs can be used in these Thai Basil recipes recipes!) If not, it's OK to use Italian basil leaves instead (that's what I did when testing this recipe.)
• Chicken Thighs (Skinless, boneless): cut into 1 inch pieces. Please do not use chicken breast as dark meat has more fat and is easier to keep juicy. (It's less likely to dry out during cooking, if you're not a stir-frying master.) I have not tested with ground chicken.
  • Note: adjust the amount of cooking oil depending on how much fat your chicken has- start with ½ Tablespoon and add more if insufficient.
• Garlic
• Red chilies: I used 1 small chili padi (or Thai Bird's Eye chili) for a mild heat and another 1-2 large red chilies for color. For those who prefer spicier foods, you can increase the amount of small chilies/ chili padi to 2 or 3. (Small chilies are usually spicier than the large ones.) Remember not to touch your eyes after handling chilies as it will sting like h--l.
• Shallot: You can replace with ¼ of a red onion
• lettuce: Butter lettuce or Bibb lettuce form a perfect cup for holding the meat, but you you want to be healthier and eat more veg, use a bigger lettuce such as romaine or iceberg lettuce. That's because romaine lettuce has bigger leaves, and it's not possible to completely fill the leaf with the chicken without breaking it, so you'll end up rolling the leaf around the chicken and increasing the veggie:chicken ratio. (I've tested this.) Look for crisp lettuce leaves and not wilted ones!

Note: for crunch, you can top with some crushed roasted cashews or peanuts, but the dish works without too. (Make sure they're not salted or the dish will be too salty.) My garnish is simple- green onions only, no lime juice or sesame seeds but you may add them if you wish.

For the bold flavors of the Thai sauce, mix together:

• 1 Tablespoon oyster sauce
• 2 teaspoon fish sauce
• 1.5 teaspoon dark soy sauce: Thais use black soy sauce but that's not readily available hence the replacement. Alternatively, you can use kecap manis as a substitute.
• 1.5 teaspoon sugar: for more authentic flavor, use palm sugar but, if not, white sugar or brown sugar work to.
• 1 teaspoon light soy sauce

Note: if you find the sauce too liquid for a lettuce wrap, you can add a cornstarch slurry to thicken it at the end. (I don't.) You can get all these ingredients at the Asian grocery store.

For more 30 minute Quick Asian Recipes for Spring or side dishes for lettuce wrap, click here.

🔪 Step-by-Step Instructions

🥡 How to Store

Store leftover chicken in the fridge in and airtight container for 1-2 days. Reheat by stir frying in a pan - make sure the chicken is thoroughly heated before serving.

I do not recommend making the lettuce cups and putting in the fridge- store the lettuce leaves and the chicken mixture separately.

🥗 Suggested Accompanying Recipes

Enjoyed this easy, better than P.F. Chang Thai Basil Chicken Lettuce Wrap Recipe? Please leave a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟rating in the recipe card below! If you REALLY liked this chicken stir fried dish, please consider supporting my Thai food recipes by buying me a bottle of soy sauce! 🙂 (No obligation though!) Thank you for trying this easy recipe and have a great day!

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